Wales

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 11:52

Looking to do Wales trip on a weekend with my friend

Any ideas and tips on routes and B&B/Camping?

**EDIT**

This is happening weekend of 4th/5th June. Feel free to join us!

Route build so far:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/5...1d-4.273911!2d53.139551!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0?hl=en

I'll keep this OP updated.

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 13:43

TallPaul_S said:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18677176

Start by reading my thread

Where are you coming from? I'd head straight for snowdonia and the roads I mentioned. I stayed at Sunray Guest house and it's nice there. There is a decent campsite on the banks of Lake Bala which I stayed at a few years ago http://www.glanllyn.com/ they may be worth checking out.

Roads to not miss: a44 a487 a483

Yep, already reading the thread

I'm coming from Baldock, North Hertfordshire.

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 14:20

TallPaul_S said:
Hmm, depends when you're 'entering' Wales from, but I'd deffo miss the brecon beacons and head straight up to snowdonia. You could do the 483 from Builth wells to Newtown, then a470 to a44 to aberystywth then the a487 then northwards from there.

The beacons and rhigos valley are great but I think north is better.

I was thinking of coming in north and working down tbh, not sure yet. Just need to get lists of roads and routes then stitch it all together

Looking for a decent tail pack, kriega do a nice big one. Get some bungees and then i'm set.

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 16:07

TallPaul_S said:
Kreiga are awesome, you don't need bungees with them - 4 straps attach to your subframe and it hooks onto them. I've literally just ordered 2x US20's to go with my US30 for a 70 litre tailpack

10% off via 44teeth http://44teeth.com/44rewards/

Be aware though, the US30 is big and if you've got a tiny sportsbike pillion seat it might be too big for it. You can get a US20 and 2x US10's either side for 40l, or a single us10 on top for 30l.

It's the
US30 i was looking at

so thanks for that!

The bungees will be for the tent if i'm camping.

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 20:02

I've started putting a route together. So far i've got a part of the north:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/5...1d-4.273911!2d53.139551!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0?hl=en

I'll be planning with my buddy in over the next couple of weeks. I'll let you all know what the route comes out like.

This will be happening over the weekend of 4th/5th June. If you want to join in, let me know!

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 20:39

TallPaul_S said:
Can I suggest a slight alteration? https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/52.1502923,-3.4007702/Newtown,+Powys/52.4135729,-4.0141439/Dolgellau/Caernarfon/53.0796213,-4.0083448/53.0146935,-3.5560754/52.915374,-3.5965772/@52.6193888,-3.8093468,10.85z/data=!4m35!4m34!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-3.3924876!2d52.2120049!3s0x486fc4b0d1d22f7d:0x3198e020985018de!1m5!1m1!1s0x486fe2b819a11709:0x8f158f8d4f8b4cae!2m2!1d-3.313106!2d52.512112!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-3.694331!2d52.6837043!3s0x48656056e3d1e7e5:0xa8d67aa8b6757f52!1m5!1m1!1s0x48657b4724381729:0x7fca06a31f8f56b4!2m2!1d-3.8844!2d52.74215!1m5!1m1!1s0x486507d8cbc40c9b:0x5290354d5ab04139!2m2!1d-4.273911!2d53.139551!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0?hl=en

The A44 is a must, it's an epic road

Done

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 20:40

TallPaul_S said:
Kreiga are awesome, you don't need bungees with them - 4 straps attach to your subframe and it hooks onto them. I've literally just ordered 2x US20's to go with my US30 for a 70 litre tailpack

10% off via 44teeth http://44teeth.com/44rewards/

Be aware though, the US30 is big and if you've got a tiny sportsbike pillion seat it might be too big for it. You can get a US20 and 2x US10's either side for 40l, or a single us10 on top for 30l.

Just noticed the code is for Bikestop.... I went there on my lunchbreak today haha! Sweet.

Yaayuh! · 11 May 2016 at 20:43

Danny207 said:
that actually looks amazing haha

I'm getting quite excited

Not looking forward to getting there though as i'm 150 miles away...

Yaayuh! · 12 May 2016 at 08:10

IC3 said:
Did they accept the code in store?

Haven't tried yet, i went there to get something else. I'll hopefully make a return trip today.

Scythe said:
B4391 near Blastau Ffestiniog is a must. Pop into the Bala lake whilst you're there, it's nice for a stop.

Nice one

Though i've already got to the point where i'll be doubling back on myself. I'll figure it out!

Yaayuh! · 13 May 2016 at 15:09

My friend says its going to be a push to fit both Snowdonia and the north in with Brecon Beacons and the south in just 2 days with 4 hours ride to get there and back. But said since he's basically got an arm chair (GS), he's up for doing it

lol

My arse is going to ache something horrible. No sheep jokes please.

We're going through and planning the route next weekend. In the meantime i'm planning video and luggage.

Camera:

I'm testing out the contour that Clov!s has kindly sent me and have my eye on the Git2 camera.

Luggage:

Thinking Kriega US30, but security is a worry, i'd have to carry it around with me potentially.
I've looked at Givi tailbags as they can be padlocked at least, but they're not waterproof so you have you put a cover over it, which is supplied but a pain.
I've looked at a Givi top box, but it will cost me around £180.

I'm open to suggestions.

Yaayuh! · 13 May 2016 at 15:12

tom_e said:
Have you already got the mounts for the Givi topbox? £180 sounds like the price of one of their boxes alone.

Nope, that's for the top box, bracket and fixing.

Yaayuh! · 13 May 2016 at 15:27

tom_e said:
That's not too bad then, I'd never be able to get my leg over the bike with a box on though

They're not too bad, as they stick out the back so far. Which makes it easier to get on but looks stupid IMO

I should just bite the bullet and blow a load of money on some proper panniers i think.

Yaayuh! · 15 May 2016 at 22:04

I'm going to go for just a top box or stretch for a pair of panniers.

Quick question:

How much does it affect the handling/drivability of the bike? And how does the top box differ to panniers in that respect. The top box being higher up and further back compared to two panniers either side and lower down.

Yaayuh! · 16 May 2016 at 08:19

Tank bag i have is a Givi XS 308: http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/209424

The Panniers
Either the V35NT: http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206556

or the Suzuki 33L: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-Ge...982749?hash=item4af8934c1d:g:RdMAAOxyRhBS0935

The Top Box
Either the Givi E370NT: http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206411

or Givi E340NT: http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206391

Yaayuh! · 16 May 2016 at 08:57

TripleT said:
I honestly don't feel it but obviously it must have some effect but nothing noticeable.

The weight "limit" on top boxes are tiny but you can put a lot more in them. My old monolock like the one youre looking at was some silly like 3kg. My monokey one is 10kg I think.

Yeah, i thought 3KG was a bit low, but would only have maybe a bottle of water, some trainers and lunch in it, so would be okay.

The Monokey boxes tend to be a lot bigger though, too big in my opinion. A top box on a GSX650F looks silly enough as it is.

Yaayuh! · 16 May 2016 at 09:45

Also, if i was to install a USB socket on my bike, would i just require these?:

Weatherproof fused eyelet lead TM71 (4th picture across) - http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2649

and this: http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/103779

More details:
Tecmate USB: http://tecmate.com/products/o-101/

Yaayuh! · 16 May 2016 at 09:51

tom_e said:
Yep.

Excellent.

Come to think of it though. I may just want it to power on when the ignition's on. Hmmmm...

I may wire it off of the headlight instead. I'll dig out the Haynes later.

Yaayuh! · 18 May 2016 at 16:20

I'm going to go for this lot for panniers:

I will have to bodge the indicators though, as i'm using an R&G Tail Tidy.

Yaayuh! · 18 May 2016 at 16:35

TallPaul_S said:
If you're planning on doing lots of 'proper' touring, hard panniers are the way to go really.You can always then stick a top box and/or soft bags on top for even more storage.

Yep, that's why i just had a "**** it" moment, as i've been saying about panniers for a couple of years now. So hard case panniers it is.

The Givi mount has an indicator bracket to extend them out further. I'll need to make up a bracket to do the same on the tail tidy. We should be able to make something up at the workshop at work though.

Yaayuh! · 23 May 2016 at 11:34

Scratchy said:
I just started plotting a loop around Wales at the weekend on google then realised you can't actually use google maps for turn-by-turn if you're not just going point to point.

So my question is to anyone using their phone for navigation what app do you use to get turn-by-turn when you've plotted a nice scenic route?

Having done some research and testing it seems Copilot could potentially do the job as you can plot a route then once it's calculated it just drag it around to the way you actually want to go but I'm be interested if anyone has a better solution.

With Google, you can see in the OP that i've done point to point to point etc etc. Then set the route between the points as best as possible to achieve what i wanted.